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4.2/5 rDev +4%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in July 2011.Poured into a large tulip glass a hazed lemony color that becomes almost milky looking when the bottom chunkies and floaties get in there.a little barnyard and alot of lemony/citric hops in the nose,a little crushed wheat as well.Nice flavor complexity with light phenolic spice and toasty wheat mixed with quite a healthy shot of American- style citric hops,alot going on and it's refreshing to boot.A great Easter beer it has kind of a spring feel and flavor to it.

Tasted with zoso1967 and BuckyFresh on 2-4-11. Thanks zoso for bringing the bottle back from PA.

Jack D'or appears bright golden-orange out of the bottle. It is a very appealing color. Small chunks of yeast are suspended in the body. Jack's head is a pure white and retains well when swirled in my snifter. The lacing is okay, leaving white streaks and dots on the side of my glass.

The smell makes my mind return to the middle of the summer. I pick up freshly cut grass, Granny Smith apple, dewy leaves, pear, clove, spicy pepper, champagne, and white grape juice. This is a very fresh and inviting aroma. The yeast stands out in the bouquet and lends a slightly funky edge. Overall, it is a very dry smell.

The taste is much more subdued than the smell. The flavor is quite earthy, grassy, and is a fair amount less fruity than the aroma. It's a mostly dry taste. Sweet, bright notes of apple and pear do appear briefly at the beginning of the sip, but then the dry spiciness kicks it up a notch. Earthy hops finish off the the taste profile.

Jack feels light to medium bodied in my mouth with quite the dry, spicy kick from the yeast and hop combination. It finishes nicely drying with a fine earthy pucker on the sides of my palate. The carbonation is just about right; if anything, I would say its just a little low.

The is a very drinkable beverage. It is one of the drier Saisons that I have had, but is pretty well balanced and tasty. I think it is a really swell example of the style and it held up well with a little age on it.

The first release from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, a new brewing project from the mind of Dann Paquette, who, after a brewing stint at Daleside Brewery in Yorshire, England, has returned to his roots in Massachusetts. Fans might remember him from the North East Brewing Company, Concorde Brewery/Rapscallion, and The Tap.

Jack D'What? "Jack of Gold," a mythical being of the barley based on John Barleycorn. He adorns the label in a welcoming guardian sort of way--but he's actually summoning. And as you might have guessed, this is a Saison--Belgian/French Farmhouse Ale--but with a twist. Brewed with Pils and Vienna malts, 10-percent malted oats, and Nugget, Palisade and Cascade hops (dry hopped, too). It clocks in at 45 IBU, 6.4-percent alcohol by volume and is inspired by traditional Saisons, hoppy Belgian ales, and American IPAs.

Sounds interesting, but what makes it really interesting is the yeast. Paquette explained that he uses "three yeast strains: one strain is a very traditional Belgian Ale strain, another is a Belgian strain known for its nonfloc characteristics and the third is a champagne yeast to 'dry out' the flavor."

Gorgeous pour. Gold with a touch of cloudiness (unfiltered) and a solid two- to three-finger creamy and fluffy head that clings to the glass. Sweet and floral in the nose with suggestions of lavender, lilac, rocky candy, some pale malts, metallic and a strong yeast presence. Fairly smooth on the palate, but a bit coarse and rustic too, with an even consistency, medium body and tight carbonation that scrubs. Distinct champagne-like bite. Quite hoppy, but not overly bitter. Citric edge; dandelion leaves. Sweetish, but not cloying. Hint of peach followed by Red Delicious apples. Green banana. Elaborate yeast. Spicy, bready. Some pepper. Husky, dry and a bit tannic in the finish with a tasty yeasty linger.

Unique is an understatement. Jack D'Or is a complex, balanced, drinkable and, yes ... interesting as all hell beer. We enjoyed it so much we almost got lost. Overall, a must try that gets a solid "A" in our books, so check out the Pretty Things website for availability.

Paquette already has some new beers in the works, but tells us that "the next is going to be the sort of beer I wanted to make in Yorkshire--an Old Ale/Stingo [slang for strong] type in both bottle and keg. It'll be named after, and dedicated to, the great beer city of Boston, called 'Saint Botolph's Town.'" Um, would it be overkill if we said "interesting" again?

Batch 9, bottled Oct2009. In a tulip, the beer was a golden color with a thick white whipped cream head that was very sticky. A sweet, spicy aroma. Sweet malt taste, some orange, and lots of peppery spice. I thought this beer was a bit on the unbalanced side, and was too sharp for me.

Poured from the bottle into a wineglass like glass. Yellow in color with medium amount of white bubbly head. Head receded fairly quickly with very little lacing. Smell was odd. Lemon, white wine and some vinegar. I began to think 'infection'. Taste was like lemon juice and nail polish. I'd heard from several people that nail polish would be very apparent when you get it, and sure enough, it was. First infected beer that I didn't realize was infected before I opened it. I have seen bacteria floating on the top of a beer before and just didn't open it. This was unfortunate. This was an extra from a trade, so it's not like I spent money on it; but I'd heard good things about this beer and still am for the next time I stumble upon one.

Bomber pourAppearance is ever-slightest hazy yellowish-straw colored, mild pure-white head nice fluffy lacing on the glass. Smell is banana and dried apricots, a little floral hop essence and perfumey. Tastes banana and heavy floral notes, spice level is well balanced with the hops and malt..clean and refreshing bubblegum flavor here, and a slightly crisp citrusy bitey finish, body is light. Overall a very well balanced American Saison, with a good display of yeast and hops.. Should be paired with delicate flavors such as uni, fresh oysters, seafood, scallops.

True golden hue, very clear as the sediment was left in the bottle for this review. Spicy and peppery, malt dust and neutral yeast with a hint of orange zest in the nose. Smooth with a bitty moderate body. Dry malt character takes hold of the palate for the duration with a smidgen of dextrin upfront. Dry yeasty tone meets dusty malt and a mild herbal hop flavor. Bitterness is low which is fine here. Kiss of citric peel but relatively clean and the very dry finish.

Very tasty, not in your face at all but subtlety complex all over which adds to its great drinkablity.

Drinkability: A very interesting beer for my 500th review here. Very tasty for a saison and not as hard and biting as others I have had. A sipper and one per sitting, but I would like to have this again, especially on tap.

Batch 10, bottled November 2009. The beer pours a clear, medium-dark yellow with a large white head. The aroma is Belgian yeast with some wheat and citrus notes. The flavor is awesome, with light funk, Belgian yeast, orange and lemons. There is the slightest bit of tartness in there as well. The citrus hops go very well with the rest of the flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium-high carbonation. This is an intensely drinkable, awesome saison.

A- golden and cloudy with a thin white head. Would have been better in a tulip

S- Belgian yeast, grass, dried fruit. Very floral.

T- Very "Belgian" off the bat. Spice,Ginger,and tropical fruit, with a bready tail. Noticeable hops, but not very pronounced (not like Dupont, anyway). A little sweeter then I like in a saison. Like Hennepin. But has a huge flavor that makes up for it. This is a great Belgian-style, but I don't know if I'd call it a saison.

M- Not really much to say, this is totally to style for a Belgian. Goes on thin, but the flavor lingers.

D- This is a very drinkable beer. I could drink three bombers of this and call it a session, easy. Were I able to get this on a regular basis, I'd buy it by the case.

Tall bottle from Consumer Beverages in Orchard Park, NY. With two big successes with their St. Botolph's Brown Ale and Baby Tree Quad, Pretty Things has become a guaranteed pickup on my Buffalo Beer haul ventures.

As usual, Pretty Things utilizes some trippy artwork on the bottling for Jack D’Or that is worth a second look. The bottle label explains that this mustachioed fellow is supposed to be a barleycorn lord of some kind (sporting a pin straight from the annals of Screaming Lord Such) standing in a mash tun. Intriguing to say the least.

Poured into my trusty Duvel goblet. Golden-lemon drop in colour, with a sturdy head of an inch or two.

Nose is quite pleasant and floral, with subtle notes of lemon, funk, herbal hops (Styrian, and, for the American Saison touch, Columbus), perhaps a bit of peach or other fleshy fruit lingering in the back as well.

Dry, grainy, and with a good balance of citrus, herbs and bitter funk, this brew is quite enjoyable. The finish is long and bitter with a lingering citrus pith and berbs flavor. Wheat malt is subtle, but there. Great brew, this: dry and flavorful.